The Car of Destiny

								

"Her brother's a friend of my best friend."
"I know."
"If it hadn't been for him, I should have had great trouble in getting
here to-night. Yet I would have come. Did Mademoiselle de la Mole tell you
that I loved you?"
Lady Monica dropped her head and did not answer, but the little hands were
pressed tightly together.
"I've always been proud of my name," I said, "though it's counted a
misfortune to bear it; but when I saw you, then I knew for the first time
how great a misfortune it may be."
"Why?"
"Because my only happiness can come now in having you for my wife; and
even if I could win your love, you wouldn't be allowed to marry my
father's son."
"Your father may have been mistaken," the girl faltered. "I do think he
was. But he was a gloriously brave man. Even the enemies against whom he
fought must respect his memory. I--I've read of him. I--bought a book
yesterday. You see--I've thought about you. I couldn't help it. We saw each
other only those few minutes, and we didn't even speak; yet somehow it was
different from anything else that ever happened to me."
"It was fate," I said. "We were destined to meet, and I was destined to
love you. If I thought I could make you care, that would give me a right I
couldn't have otherwise; the right to try and win your love, and beat down
every obstacle."
"I could--I do care," she whispered. "Even if I were never to see you
again, I shouldn't forget. This--would be the romance of my life."
"Angel!" I said. And then she took off her mask, with such a divine smile
that I could have knelt at her feet as at the shrine of a saint.
"Isn't it wonderful?" she asked. "I didn't find out your name till
yesterday, though I tried before; and we don't know each other at all--"
"Why, we've known each other since the world began. My soul had been
waiting to find yours again, and found it the other afternoon, on the road
to my own land. That's what people who don't understand call 'love at
first sight.' "
"I think it must be so; because there was never anything like that first
minute when you looked at me."
"If I could have known, it would have saved me sleepless nights. For now
you're mine, my dearest, just as I am yours. Nothing can take you from me
now."
"Ah, I'm afraid! Even if--everything were different in your life, it would
be difficult; for--there's someone else in mine already."
"There can be no one else, since you care for me."
"Not truly in my life. But there's someone my mother wants me to marry."
"The Duke of Carmona."
"You knew?"
"You see, I've thought of nothing but you; and I've learned all I could
about what concerns you."
"I don't like him, not even as a friend. He's handsome enough, but I'm
sure he has a most horrible temper. I could be afraid of him. I believe I
am afraid. And mother--you don't know her, but--when she makes up her mind
that you're to do a certain thing, you find yourself doing it. That's one